How to Choose a Flooring Contractor in Sacramento

What we found

Companies we emailed as a homeowner	106
Replied	32, median first reply 3 hours
Sent a real price	25
Installed LVP, per sq ft	$5 to $9.37 (6 quotes)
Businesses with no CSLB license we could match	37% of 311
Ranked companies where 1 review in 5 complains about the work	9 of 124

1. Check the license before anything else

In California a flooring job of $1,000 or more in labor and materials needs a contractor licensed by the CSLB. Look for an active license with the C-15 flooring class (or B, general building), a current bond and workers' compensation on file. 37% of the 311 flooring businesses we checked in the Sacramento region had no license we could match. How to check a license.

2. Get at least three written quotes

Prices for the same job vary a lot, and many companies never send one. Of the 106 companies we asked for a price by email, 32 answered and 25 gave a real number. The installed LVP quotes we received ran from $5 to $9.37 per sq ft. A company that will only talk price in person is not wrong, but ask for the result in writing before you agree to anything. What floors cost in Sacramento.

3. Make sure the quote lists every part of the job

The cheapest quote is often the one that leaves things out. A complete quote names the floor (brand, line, thickness), the area with waste, and whether it includes:

• Materials: listed in 8 of the 10 installed quotes we received
• Removal: listed in 8 of the 10 installed quotes we received
• Haul-away: listed in 2 of the 10 installed quotes we received
• Floor prep: listed in 1 of the 10 installed quotes we received
• Underlayment: listed in 1 of the 10 installed quotes we received
• Baseboards: listed in 3 of the 10 installed quotes we received
• Sales tax: listed in 1 of the 10 installed quotes we received

Anything not listed tends to come back as a change order once the old floor is up. Ask for floor prep (grinding, patching, leveling) to be priced up front: uneven subfloors are the most common source of disputes in the homeowner threads we read.

4. Ask who will lay the floor

Some stores install with their own crew, others hand the job to a subcontractor, and big-box stores sell installation done by independent installers. None of this is bad by itself, but you want to know who is responsible if a seam lifts or the floor squeaks. Ask: who installs, how long the workmanship warranty is, and whether it is in writing. In the Sacramento Reddit threads we read, installs subcontracted through big-box stores drew the most warnings.

5. Read reviews for complaints about the work

A 4.8 average says little. Read the one- and two-star reviews and the recent ones, and look for complaints about the installation itself: gaps, lifting planks, uneven transitions, damage to baseboards, crews that did not finish. That is what we count in our ranking, with the last two years weighing more than older reviews. 9 of the 124 companies we rank have complaints about the work in one review in five or more.

6. Keep the deposit within the legal limit

For home improvement work a California contractor can ask for a down payment of no more than 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less. A request for half up front is a reason to walk away or ask why.

Red flags

• No CSLB license number on the quote or the website.
• A deposit above 10% of the price or $1,000.
• A price given only by phone, with nothing in writing.
• No mention of removal, floor prep, baseboards or tax on an installed quote.
• No clear answer to who installs and what the workmanship warranty covers.
• Reviews that repeat the same complaint about the work.

Want a shortlist? See the best flooring installers in Sacramento and the full ranking.

Questions about hiring a flooring contractor

What should I check before hiring a flooring contractor in California?

An active CSLB license with the C-15 flooring or B class, workers' compensation on file, a written quote that lists removal, floor prep, baseboards and tax, who will install and the workmanship warranty, and complaints about the work in recent reviews.

How many quotes should I get for new floors?

At least three. When we emailed 106 Sacramento flooring companies as a homeowner, 32 replied and 25 sent a real price, so ask more companies than you need.

How much deposit can a flooring contractor ask for in California?

No more than 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less, for home improvement work.

How do I check a flooring contractor's license in California?

Search the license number or business name on the CSLB website (cslb.ca.gov). In California any job of $1,000 or more in labor and materials needs a licensed contractor, and a home improvement deposit is capped at 10% of the price or $1,000, whichever is less.